O’Mara, Palmesano join Bath officials to celebrate new ladder truck and police vehicle: State funding assists village purchase new vehicles (Read more, and watch today's event)

Bath, N.Y., November 7—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) visited the village of Bath Volunteer Fire Department on Morris Street today to help local officials celebrate the department’s newly acquired Ladder Truck and the village’s new police vehicle.

O’Mara and Palmesano secured $700,000 in funding as part of the 2018-2019 New York State budget to assist the village.  The state grant was funded through the State and Municipal Capital Facilities Program (SAM) and saved village and town taxpayers two-thirds of the cost of the new vehicles.

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “We are always grateful for the opportunity to assist our local police agencies, and fire departments and first responders.  These new fire and police vehicles will better serve Bath residents, enhance the personal safety of firefighters and police officers, and ease the burden on local property taxpayers.  Thank you to Mayor von Hagn, Supervisor Smith, Bath's firefighters and police officers, and their fellow first responders throughout the region for their outstanding service to save lives, protect property, and keep our communities and neighborhoods safe.”  

The area state legislators were joined today by Bath Mayor William von Hagn, Town of Bath Supervisor Ronald Smith, Bath Fire Chief Matthew Glashauser, Bath Chief of Police Chad Mullen, firefighters, police officers, and other local officials.

Mayor von Hagn said, “I recognized very early in my tenure as Mayor that the purchase and funding of a Ladder Truck was going to be a very heavy lift for the residents in the Bath area.  I spoke to Senator O'Mara at a Chamber of Commerce dinner and laid out the budgetary difficulties we were facing.  Senator O'Mara asked me to write a letter outlining our status and needs.  My letter to Senator O'Mara and his generous assistance is the reason that we stand in front of a nearly one million-dollar ladder truck and a much-needed Police Vehicle.  Our police and firefighters are dedicated professionals and having the tools to take care of us is critical to the members of our community.  Thank you Senator O'Mara and Assemblyman Palmesano for your continued support to the residents of both the village and town of Bath.”

Fire Chief Glashauser said, “We are responsible for the safety and welfare of the residents and businesses of the village and town of Bath.  Equipment such as this ladder truck that Senator O'Mara and Assemblyman Palmesano secured funding for is imperative for the safety of our downtown business district, and the people in our multi-level residential buildings and hotels.  We are extremely grateful for their dedication to serve the people of our community by reducing a huge financial burden to only one-third of the cost.  Our job as firefighters is a hard one, but it could not be done without the support from our Village Board and the strong support from the State of New York."

The fire department purchased the new Ladder Truck to replace an outdated, 30-year-old truck. It will enhance the department’s firefighting capabilities for its district and the surrounding area.  The department provides fire services to both the village and town of Bath.

The new, fully equipped police vehicle ensures that the village maintains a fleet of four patrol cars.                     

UPDATE: Watch today's event on WETM-TV, "New vehicles presented to Bath Volunteer Fire Department"